Відео

Thank you for sharing your story and sources!!

⭐️ Thanks for sharing a relatable story! I agree that we need to be more open about the tricky parts of being artists as well. I really like your art style and personally don't think you need to change it The story sounds cute to me as well. Something that has helped me with procrastination these days is asking myself "what do I need in order to fulfill this task? What can I give myself or how can I create the circumstances in which I will feel motivated?" Hope that makes sense. But I totally know the feeling of not having the motivation to keep working on a project, especially when you can't predict the success.

My first was also born with his hand up and caused 2nd degree tearing. It was also a natural birth. You have a lovely story.

What a beautiful baby girl. Thank you for the video.

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i hope youtube algorithm will help you find the answers you are looking for 🧡

Rooting for you, Romica 😊

Thank you all for your wonderful comments on my last video. This is another chatty podcast style video that you can listen to while doing other things. I’m showing some of my work at 17:50 in case you don’t want to miss seeing that. How have you been and how do you deal with critical comments on your art?

Hi, Romica! I've stumbled upon your video quite randomly and it resonated a lot with my own experiences lately. There's a story that I've been trying to get published for a while now too and can't seem to get it anywhere even though I've received some really positive feedback from agents (but not a yes) and I just can't seem to find the strength to edit/work on it again anymore even though I LOVE that story more than anything.(It's been a year now) What worked for me (and please feel free to ignore it if it's not for you): I first joined a PB creating class and was able to have some feedback from a fellow PB author that really put things into perspective for me. It's really EASY to feel like you're the problem, your art sucks and your story isn't that great, we tend to take the blame entirely towards ourselves when it might be just a question of having a bit of luck. Basically what that author told me, is that sometimes it's just happens that the agent that looked at your project was in a bad mood, maybe you even sent your project just when they decided that they would not accept new projects anymore or your story didn't personally resonate with THEM etc etc. There are so many invisible factors that count when getting a yes from a publisher/agent that are never discussed or mentioned. Plus, I think the whole process of sending query letters to agents and such is exhausting and after months of reaching out to them it can feel quite isolating and easy to start doubting your skills and sanity ... The second thing that helped me and you mentioned it yourself, is that I printed the dummy for myself and showed it to family and friends. Yes their feedback is never objective because they love you and enjoy your art, but it felt so good to have people reading it and love the story as much as I do. It helped me put things into perspective and even consider to self-publish that story in the meantime! Lastly, I moved on to something else. It was HARD but it worked. I am now currently working on a new PB project that I want to present for dPICTUS (check them out if you don't know them, you could try it!) and then reach again to agents and publishers. I feel like working and something else and actually finishing it helped with all the doubts and confidence in my skills enough to see that my first story isn't that bad, I just haven't find the right person to champion it YET. Anyways, all of this to say: Don't give up and you're doing well! I hope my comment helps a little and I'm very happy to have discovered your work and channel. Also: I don't think your art is outdated at all (THE CUTENESS!!). While it's true that now more and more artists work digitally and seem to aim for a more generic broad or minimalist style, there's also room for more unique and traditional styles out there AND in these times of AI art, I think we'll see more and more people going back to traditional art and artists! Good luck out there!!

*sends love and support* I love picture books! I believe in you!!!!!!

I think you're WAY too much in your head about this now, and you probably DO need some professional feedback. Maybe you also need some peer group feedback, and should invest in both avenues. An editor, and that society both sound like good things to pursue, just to get past the question of what to do next. Hopefully you'll find a children's book editor specializing in your genre within that huge category, who'll give you an objective, reliable two-cents' worth that'll help you out of your current quandary.

well, life is tough lol. In the same boat rn

I would say as an children's book editor (of a publisher that does not take submissions so I can't help you there) the story is much more important to us than the art style. Not to say art doesn't matter, but the story has to be the core of why a book exists and therefore why adults and children want to engage with it. Good Story is the medicine and good art is the spoonful of sugar that helps it go down. I would take a look at what it is your story is trying to say - what is the message or concept you are trying to get kids to engage with? Make sure that comes across really clearly in the simplest language possible. You should have that manuscript written out fully, each artwork roughly planned, and then only a couple of artworks done fully. Too much complete art may turn people off because it sends the message that you're essentially just looking for a printer, not a publishing team who are going to want to change certain ideas and concepts to hone your book for the market. I would also agree with other comments about putting too much pressure on this book to signify your professional success. Sometimes no matter how good it is, a book doesn't make it to publication. That doesn't mean its a bad book or that you're a bad artist, it's just that publishing is a business, and the market is maybe moving a different way right now. Maybe step away from this title and try submitting some other things that you are not as emotionally invested in, or even submitting your portfolio to an illustration agency and getting yourself out there that way? Not saying any of this is guaranteed to work and feel free to ignore, but I thought I'd offer some advice from an editors side of things.

I can fully relate! Im also drawing out a story and get major judgemental/stressed moments when thinking about if it will ever be something..especially when I see basically any other actually published story and start: 'oh no but mine isnt like this'! I guess the beauty is that u are doing your style, nobody else can do that one just like you. For me it helps to think about it a bit like this : Even if the comic never gets published or doesnt become a big succes, i will always feel such great joy about the fact that I ACTUALLY DID THAT!! I finished it! thats what keeps me working because ow lord im still not there yet haha. Also i'm dedicating my story to my best friend, who i keep telling that 'im drawing it i'm juuust not finished yet' but i do actually want to be able to show her the result one day and if she loves it, which lets be fair if someone draws a book and ur in it..she will, and i love it: than my initial setup for the comic is achieved and in the end its a succes. Idk how u relate to my little comment but i fully 100% relate to your video of just going in circles in your mind. As long as the actually drawing of it for you is still fun, dont throw it away!

Nothing hurts more than seeing underrated artists!

I really hope your book gets published. Not quite the same experience, but I dabbled in illustration for ten years. In the end it felt like I wasted all that time with nothing to show for it. But as time went on, I really learned to not be so precious with things and just enjoy the process, and hoped to work harder in the future to get the results I want.

I hope this doesn't come off sounding like unwanted advice. It's just my opinion. It sounds to me like you may be putting a bit too much expectation on this book. You love this book, which is important and wonderful. But that love is becoming a detriment because it will never be perfect. I think it's good to reach out to someone who's opinion you can trust to give you some feedback, but honesly I think you will learn 1000 times more from finishing it, and publishing than from over thinking. I have very similar issues with my paintings where one will sit half finished for months at a time. Deadlines are the only thing that helped me get over that. If it has to be done by a specific time, I have no choice but to finish it. I learn so much from these finished projects that make me better every day. Also, after so much time working on this project, it's going to be incredibly difficult to feel excited to work on it. That's just a normal part of any art making. If you can push yourself to work even when you don't want to, it might help you get out of this rut and find some joy with the book again. The publishing industry is rougher than ever, please try not to take rejections so personally. It's difficult for publishers to take risks on a debut author. That doesn't reflect on you or your project at all. Keep Submitting! It's clear you are full of passion for this project. I'm happy you shared this struggle, its so relatable for any creative.

🌟 Hi Romica ! I don't think you need to change your art style, especially if you don't feel attracted to a different style ! There are so many styles out there, and it's great if everything doesn't look the same :) When I go to look at picture books at book stores I see a lot of line work as well. I think your style is super charming! 💗 I can relate to wanting to get something done but then not doing it haha. I've also been working on a picture book for a long time and I'm wondering why i don't feel the motivation to find more time for it. Doing a creative "side project" (magnets, pins) has been a revelation to me, it's brought so much joy back into creating things. Maybe sometimes we first just need to find the simple joy of creating something, in doing something that has less "pressure" attached to it (or that we attach to it...)

I'm trying to publish my book too. Mine is a combination of a coloring book/picture book and been trying to find a book agent. But I will stay positive, because we struggle as illustrators/artists. I AM NOT GIVING UP!! And you shouldn't either. Love from Greece 💗

absolutely, it is important. i think we should finally stop enlarging that bubble of sucessful success, and talk about ordinary struggles. we are letting others know what to expect (I still want to become an illustrator, in my next life at least, though I see how complicated the way is and how naive I look at it). As for your book.. Have you considered using some ai chat to revise the text? It might give you some weird ideas but it might refresh the current state. Style wise, are there any books similar to your style which have been recently published? Is it worth talking to those publishing houses? As for brushes and digital drawing overall, I struggled so much to learn drawing in Procreate. And no matter how amazing the app is I was so much more at ease grabbing pencils and real water brushes and actylic markers.. Emulating textures in Procreate felt so clumsy to me all the time.

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This is a postcast style video - so you can do your own thing and simply listen. Thank you for watching :) I did play around with the style of the book in the upcoming video - subscribe to follow along 💖

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I always enjoy your life sharing ⭐ Looking forward to ordering the next child room drawing ☺️

I always appreciate your honesty and relatability :)⭐Being a great mother takes a lot of time and energy and you don't need to feel pressure to make art if it doesn't feel right. I also don't like creating when it just feels like a chore. Art should be something we enjoy :)

Schön dich wieder zu sehen und hören, liebe Romica.🤗 Stay well and who you are :)🌼🥀

I feel you, Romica 💛 I send you a big virtual hug and I'll wait for new content, when you'll be ready to share something ⭐

Thank you for watching ❤

Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability! I’m a toddler Mom and it’s been so difficult for me to get back to what I love. Creating.

Very relaxing video, looks like you had fun too, I'll have to give pastels another go! 😄

This gives me some hope, thank you! I have 2 boys (5mo and 4yo) and although I’ve written a few books while my youngest was sleeping, finding time to illustrate has been much more challenging!

I should try this technique! Really like the bold colors and lines Relaxing to watch as well :)

Weirdly enough, I just bought oil pastels today for the first time in years! ❤

What’s your favourite drawing tip to get out of a creative funk?

It was nice to see a little studio tour. I like the orb thing and the lights ^^ And it's cool how much more motivated we are to draw because of a simple challenge 😊

Your new drawing is super cute and cozy 😍

Time stamps 0:00 How our journey started 2:40 Early Challenges and Mistakes 10:00 What helped me and Resources I recommend 13:07 Tandem feeding and our experience 14:55 What I did with our 2nd baby 16:00 Undermining opinions about Breastfeeding 18:36 Why I chose to wean 19:57 How we weaned our toddler at night 27:00 thoughts on sleeping through and breastfeeding 28:43 siblings sharing a room

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I could listen to you reading the directions for using a household appliance. So pleasant!

Seems like you're really enjoying gardening 😊 Nice to see. The purple flowers looked so nice!

Nice to hear that you could see positive things in these challenges. I found a lot of things relatable even though I don't have kiddos 😆

I can definitely relate two of my kiddos have chickenpox’s.

Thank you for sharing 🤗! Looking forward to hearing more about the packaging illustrations ❤️

A lot of lessons in just 22 minutes

Thank you for watching. How have you been?

Amazing illustration! Already sub to you!^^

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Stille nacht, nice

Love this guy!